System, method, and apparatus for embedding personal video recording functions at picture level

ABSTRACT

Described herein are system(s), method(s), and apparatus for embedding personal video recorder functions at the picture level. In one embodiment, there is presented a computer readable medium for storing a data structure. The data structure comprises a picture header and at least one command following the picture header.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[Not Applicable]

MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE

[Not Applicable]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Personal video recording functions allow a user to rewind, fast forward,pause, and play video data in slow motion. The foregoing functions canbe implemented by displaying selected pictures from the pictures formingthe video data.

Many video compression standards introduce data dependencies betweenpictures in a video. As a result, some pictures in the video are datadependent on other pictures in the video. Pictures that are datadependent on other pictures are decoded after the other pictures.

The compression standards typically restrict the permissible datadependencies between pictures in the video data, such that the decodingorder has some relationship to the standard video display order.However, the decoding order can be vastly different from the rewind andfast forward order.

Due to copyright and security concerns, video data is increasinglyencrypted. The video data is usually transmitted in transport packets.The transport packets include a header and payload. The payload includesencrypted video data.

The use of encrypted data complicates personal video recordingfunctions. Certain personal video recording functions can displaypictures in a different order from the standard playback order. Instandard playback, the video data stream is accessed and consumed ingenerally a continuous manner. During a number of personal videorecording functions, the video data is displayed in a non-continuousorder. The encryption complicates accessing the video data at theappropriate intervals.

Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditionalsystems will become apparent to one of skill in the art throughcomparison of such systems with the invention as set forth in theremainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Presented herein are system(s), method(s), and apparatus for embeddingpersonal video recording functions at the picture level, substantiallyas shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of thefigures, as set forth more completely in the claims.

These and other advantages and novel features of the present invention,as well as details of illustrated examples embodiments thereof, will bemore fully understood from the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram describing encrypted and compressed videodata;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram describing an exemplary circuit for decodingvideo data in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram describing a memory storing encrypted GOPs;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram for the fast forward function in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram for the rewind function in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a picture storing commands for effectuatinga personal video recording function in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary Moving PictureExperts Group (MPEG) encoding process of video data 101, in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention. The video data 101comprises a series of pictures 103. Each picture 103 comprisestwo-dimensional grids of luminance Y, 105, chrominance red C_(r), 107,and chrominance blue C_(b), 109, pixels.

The pictures 103 can be compressed using a variety of compressiontechniques that take advantage of both spatial and temporalredundancies. Additionally, the pictures 103 include a header 103(a)with parameter information. The pictures 103 are grouped together into adata structure known as a group of pictures (GOP) 123. The GOP 123 alsoincludes additional parameters further describing the GOP. A number ofGOPs 123 together form a video sequence 125.

Due to copyright and security concerns, video data is increasinglyencrypted. Accordingly, the video sequence 125 can be encrypted usingany one of a variety of schemes. The encrypted video sequence 128 isthen packetized into what are known as transport packets 130. Thetransport packets 130 are fixed length packets and comprise headers 130a and payloads 130 b. For example, the transport packets used by theMPEG standards are 188 bytes, including a four byte header and a 184byte payload. The payload 130 b carries the encrypted video sequence128.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary circuit fordecrypting and decoding the encrypted video data, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. Data is received and stored in abuffer 203 within Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM) 201.The data can be received from either a communication channel, including,for example, a satellite or cable communication link, or memory,including, for example, a hard disc or DVD.

The data output from the buffer 203 is then passed to a data transportprocessor 205. The data transport processor 205 demultiplexes thetransport stream into packetized elementary stream constituents, andpasses the audio transport stream to an audio decoder 215 and the videotransport stream to a video transport processor 207.

The video transport processor 207 extracts the payload 130 b from thestream of transport packets 130, thereby recovering the encrypted video128. A decryption engine 208 receives and decrypts the encrypted video128 recovering the video sequence 125 and writes the video sequence 125to a compressed data buffer 218.

A video decoder 209 decompresses pictures 103 of the video sequence 125from the compressed data buffer 208 and writes the pictures 103 to framebuffers 219. The display engine 211 scales the picture 103, renders thegraphics, and constructs the complete display.

The circuit also supports personal video recording functions, such asfast forward, and rewind, to name a few. The circuit includes a receiver221 for receiving a signal from a control panel 223. The control panelcan comprise a variety of input devices, such as a hand-held infrared orradio remote control unit, or a keyboard. The control panel 223 caneither form a portion of the circuit or be separate from the circuit.

The user can initiate personal video recording functions from thecontrol panel. The control panel 223 provides a signal corresponding tothe particular personal video recording function to the controller 216via receiver 221.

During standard playback, the pictures 103 are displayed in the order ofcapture by video camera during recording. Additionally, in MPEG-2,during standard playback, the pictures 103 are decoded in the order thatthe pictures 103 are received. Thus, the video data can be written tothe buffer 203 in the order that the video data is received. The datatransport processor 205, video transport processor 207, and decryptionengine 208 can process the video data by fetching the video data fromsequential addresses from buffer 203. Similarly, the video decoder 209decodes the video data by fetching the video data from sequentiallocations in the compressed data buffer 218. This can be implemented byuse of a pointer.

During fast forward and rewind operations, the video data is notnecessarily decoded in the order that the video data is received. Incontrast, during fast forward and rewind, the decoding order for thepictures may skip certain pictures. During the rewind operation, thedecoding order for the pictures may reverse direction.

Accordingly, the controller 216 fetches encrypted GOPs 123 from thebuffer 203. The decryption engine 208 decrypts the fetched encrypted GOP123 and writes the GOP 123 to the compressed data buffer 218. Thecontroller 216 creates a picture table 230 for the GOP 123. The picturetable 230 indexes the pictures 103 of the GOP 123 in the compressed databuffer 218, indicating information such as the type of picture 103, andthe address in compressed data buffer 218 from which the picture 103starts.

The video decoder 209 uses the picture table 230 to locate particularpictures. Additionally, the controller 216 writes commands into thepicture 103. In certain embodiments, the commands can be written intouser data that immediately follows the picture header. The video decoder209 is operable to detect and execute the commands. The execution of thecommands effectuates the personal video recording functions. While thevideo decoder 209 decodes one GOP 123, the controller 216, anddecryption engine 208 fetch, encrypt, create a table for, and writescommands for the next GOP 123 ink the personal video recording functionorder. In the case of fast forward, the next GOP 123 is the next GOP 123in the standard playback order. In the case of rewind, the next GOP 123is the preceding GOP 123.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a block diagram describingencrypted GOPs 123(n−2), 123(n−1), 123(n), 123(n+1), 123(n+2), . . .stored in the buffer 203. The encrypted GOPs 123 are generally stored inthe buffer 203 in the order that the GOPs are received, and theencrypted GOPs are generally received in the order of standard playback.

Where during standard playback through picture 103 of GOP 123(n), thecircuit receives a request for the fast forward function, the controller216 fetches the ending portion of GOP 123(n)′. The decryption engine 208decrypts the remaining portion of the GOP 123(n)′ and writes thedecrypted remaining portion of the GOP 123(n)′ to the compressed databuffer 218. The controller 216 also receives and parses the remainingportion of the GOP 123(n)′, to create the picture table 230. The videodecoder 209 decodes at least some of the pictures in the ending portion123(n)′ of the GOP. According to certain aspects of the presentinvention, the controller 216 can also write commands that effectuatethe fast forward function.

While the video decoder 209 decodes at least some of the pictures in theending portion of the GOP 123 (n)′, the controller 216 fetches the GOP123(n+1). The decryption engine 208 decrypts GOP 123(n+1) and writes thedecrypted GOP 123(n+1) to the compressed data buffer 218. The controller216 receives and parses the GOP 123(n+1), to create the picture table230 for GOP 123(n+1). The foregoing can be repeated for any number ofGOPs.

The controller 216 can fetch the ending portion of the GOP 123(n)′, andnext GOPs 123(n+1), 123(n+2), . . . , by using a pointer ptr. Thecontroller 216 fetches the remaining portion 123(n)′ by using thepointer ptr to fetch data words. After fetching each data word, thepointer ptr is incremented. In the foregoing manner, the controller 216can fetch the data words for the remainder of GOP 123(n)′, followed byGOP 123(n+1).

Where during standard playback through picture 103 of GOP 123(n), thecircuit receives a request for the rewind function, the controller 216fetches the beginning portion of GOP 123(n)″. The decryption engine 208decrypts the beginning portion of the GOP 123(n)″ and writes thedecrypted beginning portion of the GOP 123(n)″ to the compressed databuffer 218. The controller 216 also receives and parses the beginningportion of the GOP 123(n)″, to create the picture table 230.

The video decoder 209 decodes at least some of the pictures in thebeginning portion 123(n)″ of the GOP. According to certain aspects ofthe present invention, the controller 216 can also write commands thateffectuate the rewind function.

While the video decoder 209 decodes the at least some of the pictures inthe beginning portion of the GOP 123(n)″, the controller 216 fetches theGOP 123(n−1). The decryption engine 208 decrypts GOP 123(n−1) and writesthe decrypted GOP 123(n−1) to the compressed data buffer 218. Thecontroller 216 receives and parses the GOP 123(n−1), to create thepicture table 230 for GOP 123(n−1). The foregoing can be repeated forany number of GOPs.

The controller 216 can fetch the beginning portion of the GOP 123(n)″,and GOPs 123(n−1), 123(n−2), . . . , by using a pointer ptr. Thecontroller 216 decrements the pointer ptr by a predetermined offset. Theoffset can be chosen to be large enough that the pointer ptr will pointto an address that is at least before the starting address of the GOP.After decrementing the pointer ptr, the data words from the addresspointed to by the pointer ptr are fetched and decrypted by thedecryption engine 208. The controller 216 examines the decrypted videodata. When the controller 216 detects the start of a GOP, the data wordsare written to the compressed data buffer 218.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a flow diagram for thefast forward function, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. At 405, the controller 216 receives a fast forward command.At 410, the ending portion of the GOP(n)′ is fetched. At 415, the endingportion of the GOP(n)′ is decrypted. At 420, the controller 216 createsa picture table 230 for the remaining portion of the GOP(n)′. At 425,the controller 216 writes commands to the pictures 103 of the GOP(n)′that effectuate the fast forward command.

At 430, the next GOP in the forward direction, e.g., GOP 123(n+1) isfetched. At 435, the GOP is decrypted and stored, while the previous GOPis decoded according to the commands written in the pictures. At 440,the controller 216 creates a picture table 230 for the GOP, while theprevious GOP is decoded. At 445, the controller 216 writes commands tothe pictures 103 of the GOP that effectuate the fast forward command,while the previous GOP is decoded. The foregoing, 430-445, can berepeated any number of times for any number of GOPs.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is illustrated a flow diagram for therewind function in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. At 505, the controller 216 receives a rewind command. At 510,the pointer ptr is decremented by an offset. At 515, the video datastarting from the new pointer address until the end of the beginningportion is decrypted. At 517, the controller waits until the start ofthe GOP(n) is found. When the start of GOP(n) is found at 520, thecontroller 216 creates a picture table 230 for the beginning portion ofGOP 123(n)″. At 525, the controller 216 writes commands to the pictures103 of the that effectuate the rewind command.

At 530, the pointer ptr is decremented by the offset. At 532, the videodata starting at the new pointer address is decrypted. At 534, thecontroller 2-16 waits until the start of the next previous GOP(n−1). At535, the GOP is decrypted. At 540, the controller 216 creates a picturetable 230 for the GOP. At 545, the controller 216 writes commands to thepictures 103 of the GOP that effectuate the fast forward command. Theforegoing, 530-545, can be repeated any number of times for any numberof GOPs. During 530-545, the video decoder 209 decodes at least some ofthe pictures in the next GOP, e.g., GOP 123(n).

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is illustrated a block diagram of apicture 103 storing commands for execution by the video decoder 209. Thepicture 103 comprises a picture header 103(a). The picture header 103(a)is followed by a field known as user data, ud.

The controller 216 writes commands CMD effectuating the fast forward orrewind function by first writing a user data start code, USER DATA STARTCODE, asignature, SIGNATURE, followed by commands, CMD . . . CMD to theuser data, ud. The signature, SIGNATURE, can comprise, for example, 0×4252 43 4D.

In the case where the picture 103 includes user data prior to insertionof the commands CMD by the controller 216, the controller 216 writes theuser data start code, USER DATA START CODE, signature SIGNATURE, andcommands CMD, prior to the original user data start code USER DATA STARTCODE′, and the user data DATA.

The particular sequence of commands can comprise, for example, thesequences of commands described in “Command Packet System and MethodSupporting Improved Trick Mode Performance in Video Decoding Systems”,application Ser. No. 10/317,389, filed Dec. 11, 2002, by Aggarwal, et.al., which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

The foregoing does not depend on commands inserted in a transportpacket. A host application can send commands to the video decoder evenwhen the application is not using the transport layer, such as thepacketized elementary stream layer or elementary stream layer. This isbecause the commands are carried through the user data. The user data iscarried within the stream and does not need transport headers orpackets. Thus, the foregoing can be used with systems that do not usetransport streams for transmitting data.

The embodiments described herein may be implemented as a board levelproduct, as a single chip, application specific integrated circuit(ASIC), or with varying levels of the decoder system integrated withother portions of the system as separate components. The degree ofintegration of the decoder system will primarily be determined by thespeed and cost considerations. Because of the sophisticated nature ofmodern processor, it is possible to utilize a commercially availableprocessor, which may be implemented external to an ASIC implementation.Alternatively, if the processor is available as an ASIC core or logicblock, then the commercially available processor can be implemented aspart of an ASIC device wherein certain functions can be implemented infirmware. In one embodiment, the present invention can comprise anintegrated circuit.

While the invention has been described with reference to certainembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention.

In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particularsituation or material to the teachings of the invention withoutdeparting from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the inventionnot be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that theinvention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of theappended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for processing video data,said apparatus comprising: a decoder system operable to decode the videodata, said decoder system comprising: a controller operable to write atleast one command into a group of pictures data structure, the at leastone command affecting at least one of a playback speed of the videodata, a playback direction of the video data, or both the playback speedof the video data and the playback direction of the video data; and avideo decoder operably connected to the controller to execute the atleast one command.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the group ofpictures data structure comprises a picture header, and wherein thecontroller writes the at least one command after the picture header. 3.The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the group of pictures data structurecomprises user data, said user data comprising a start code, asignature, and the at least one command.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein execution of the at least one command by the video decodercauses a rewind operation.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinexecution of the at least one command by the video decoder causes a fastforward operation.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the videodecoder decompresses the video data, said decoder system furthercomprising: a display engine operable connected to the video decoder toprovide the decompressed video data for display.
 7. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the decoder system further comprises: a computerreadable medium connected to the video decoder and storing a picturedata structure corresponding to the group of pictures data structure,wherein said picture data structure comprises: a picture header; and atleast one command following the picture header.
 8. The apparatus ofclaim 7, wherein the picture data structure comprises user data, andwherein the user data comprises the at least one command.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 7, wherein the user data immediately follows thepicture header.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the user datacomprises a user data start code and a signature.
 11. The apparatus ofclaim 7, wherein the picture data structure comprises a picture payload,said picture payload following the at least one command.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one command is for a rewindfunction.
 13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one commandis for a fast forward function.
 14. The apparatus of claim 7, whereinthe data structure further comprises: a picture payload following theuser data.
 15. A method for processing video data in a decoder system,comprising the steps of: writing via a video controller at least onecommand into a group of pictures data structure, the at least onecommand affecting at least one of a playback speed of the video data, aplayback direction of the video data, or both the playback speed of thevideo data and the playback direction of the video data; and executing,in a video decoder, the at least one command.
 16. The method of claim15, wherein the group of pictures data structure comprises a pictureheader, and the method further comprises the step of writing, via thevideo controller, the at least one command following the picture header.17. The method of claim 15, wherein execution of the at least onecommand by the video decoder causes a rewind operation.
 18. The methodof claim 15, wherein execution of the at least one command by the videodecoder causes a fast forward operation.
 19. The method of claim 15,wherein the group of pictures data structure further comprises at leastone picture data structure, wherein the picture data structurecomprises: at least one picture header; and at least one commandfollowing the picture header.
 20. A system for processing video data,comprising: means for writing at least one command into a group ofpictures data structure, the at least one command affecting at least oneof a playback speed of the video data, a playback direction of the videodata, or both the playback speed of the video data and the playbackdirection of the video data; and means for executing the at least onecommand.